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Income taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income taxes

12. Income taxes

At the end of each interim period, the Company applies its estimated annual effective tax rate (“ETR”) to its interim earnings before considering the tax effect of any discrete items. The Company also records the tax impact of certain unusual or infrequently occurring items, including the effects of changes in valuation allowances and tax laws or rates, in the interim period in which they occur. A valuation allowance is established if it is determined that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred income tax assets will not be realized. Management exercises significant judgment in determining the Company’s provisions for income taxes, its deferred income tax assets and liabilities and its future taxable income for purposes of assessing its ability to utilize any future tax benefit from its deferred income tax assets. Although management believes that its tax estimates are reasonable, the ultimate tax determination involves significant judgments that could become subject to audit by tax authorities in the ordinary course of business. As of each reporting date management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact management’s view with regards to future realization of deferred tax assets. As of September 30, 2015, management believes that it is more likely than not that all of the Company’s deferred income tax assets will be realized and no valuation allowance was required on its U.S. deferred tax assets. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the amount accrued for interest and penalties was not material to the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

The computation of the estimated annual ETR for each interim period requires certain estimates and significant judgments, including, but not limited to, the expected operating income for the year, projections of the proportion of income earned and taxed in state jurisdictions, estimates of permanent and temporary differences, and the likelihood of recovering deferred tax assets generated in the current year. The accounting estimates used to compute the provision for income taxes may change as new events occur, additional information is obtained, or the tax environment changes. For the 2015 fiscal year, the Company’s estimated annual ETR is 39.0%, which excludes the impact of changes in the valuation of the Private Placement Warrants, as such amounts are excluded from the calculation of taxable income. Given the subjectivity and volatility of the valuation of the Private Placement Warrants, it is not possible to project the impact of the change in the Private Placement Warrants in the computation of the Company’s estimated annual ETR.

As a result, the Company’s reported ETR will differ from the estimated annual ETR due to the changes in the valuation of the Private Placement Warrants in the periods in which such changes occur. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $2,203,000 and $7,504,000, respectively. The Company’s reported income tax rate was 14.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Excluding the impact of the change in the value of the Private Placement Warrants, the Company’s reported income tax rate would have been 32.7% in the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The lower income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was attributable to the true-up of the Company’s 2014 income taxes as filed in the Company’s tax returns as compared to the income tax provision recorded on its books for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company’s tax credits arising from its research and development activities were higher than the amounts originally estimated at provision, representing the primary reason for the additional income tax benefit realized in the true-up of the income tax provision for 2014. The Company’s reported income tax rate was 35.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Excluding the impact of the change in the value of the Private Placement Warrants, the Company’s reported income tax rate would have been 38.1% in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

The Company is currently under audit for its income taxes at the federal level for the tax year ended December 31, 2013 and the state level for the tax years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012. The ultimate impact, if any, as a result of these audits cannot be determined at this time. However, the Company does not believe that the outcome for these audits will have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations or its financial position.